According to the story, the thieves rendered the toilets useless by using tools to pull brass hardware from the units.

Campus Police Captain Margo Bennett said: "We''ve put out a crime alert to make people aware of it, but because of the seclusion in the bathrooms, it''s hard to expect eyewitnesses. So we''re asking people to just be aware. If you see strangers in the building, give us a call. If you see people walking around with bags that look like they may be carrying tools or parts, give us a call. We''re hoping to pick up some sightings of suspicious people in the area."

Each damaged toilet costs more than $250 to replace, resulting in a potential loss in the range of thousands of dollars for the university, the story stated.

Bennett said the brass is most likely being sold for scrap metal, the story added.